The Truth About Youth (1930)

Richard Carewe has raised his deceased friend's son from childhood with the help of his housekeeper and her beautiful daughter, Phyllis. He arranges a marriage between Phyllis and the boy, ... See full summary »

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writers:

H.V. Esmond (based on: "When We Were Twenty-One" by), B. Harrison Orkow (adaptation)

Stars:

Loretta Young, Conway Tearle, David Manners

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Loretta Young	...	Phyllis Ericson
Conway Tearle	...	Richard Carewe
David Manners	...	Richard Dane 'The Imp'
Myrna Loy	...	Kara
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Colonel Graham
Myrtle Stedman	...	Mrs. Ericson
Harry Stubbs	...	Horace Palmer 'Waddles'

Storyline

Richard Carewe has raised his deceased friend's son from childhood with the help of his housekeeper and her beautiful daughter, Phyllis. He arranges a marriage between Phyllis and the boy, but the rascal impulsively marries a notorious nightclub singer, "the Firefly", instead. The femme fatale dumps the boy when she discovers he has no money, but by then Phyllis realizes she is in love with Richard, not his foolish ward.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | housekeeper | nightclub | singer | courtship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 November 1930 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min 69 min (copyright length) 67 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 5 February 1900 and had 41 performances. There were 2 Broadway revivals, the last in 1906.

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Quotes

Kara: Thanks... you have a couple of dangerous curves yourself.

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Connections

Remake of When We Were 21 (1921)

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Soundtracks

"In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree"
(1905) (uncredited)
Music by Egbert Van Alstyne
Lyrics by Harry Williams
Played on piano by J. Farrell MacDonald and sung by him and Harry Stubbs

User Reviews

Early talkie

"The Truth About Youth" is a 1930 film of special interest because of two of its young stars, Loretta Young and Myrna Loy. The story concerns a housekeeper's daughter Phyllis (Young) who is engaged to the young man of the house, "The Imp" (David Manners). He has just turned 21 and has been raised by a triumvirate of guardians, chiefly Richard (Conway Tearle). "The Imp" (whose real name is Richard) falls madly in lust with a man trap called Kara, who performs at a club and is known as "The Firefly." He writes her a passionate letter and when Phyllis finds it, the elder Richard claims it's his.

Because this is an early talkie, the film comes off as rather wooden. Both Loy and Young are gorgeous, Loy as a vamp and Young as a sweet young thing. Both had those short hairdos with the tight wave so popular back then. Loy has the better role as a money-grubber, and she's great. The gown she wears in performance is a knockout - an actress could wear it to the Oscars today.

The men are just okay, with the exception of two of the guardians, J. Farrell McDonald and Harry Stubbs, who provide some humor.

Before she became Nora Charles, Loy was cast as a vamp, usually an exotic one, until a producer who knew her personally decided to mine her humor. "The Truth About Youth" is an excellent chance to see her in an early role.